AP: AT&T offers concessions in merger deal

Eugene

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Thu Dec-28-06 09:40 PM
Original message

AP: AT&T offers concessions in merger deal

AT&T offers concessions in merger deal

By JOHN DUNBAR, Associated Press Writer
57 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - AT&T Inc. has offered a new set of concessions that are expected
to satisfy the two Democrats on the Federal Communications Commission and lead
to approval of the company's $85 billion buyout of BellSouth Corp.

Approval by the full commission could happen as soon as Friday.

AT&T filed a letter of commitment with the agency Thursday night that adds a
number of new conditions to the deal, including a promise to observe "network
neutrality" principles, an offer of affordable stand-alone digital subscriber line
service and divestment of some wireless spectrum.

Final approval still requires a vote of the commissioners, which can happen at any
time via computer. The proposed deal is the largest telecommunications merger in U.S.
history.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061229/ap_on_bi_ge/att_bellsouth

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Eric J in MN

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Thu Dec-28-06 09:43 PM
Response to Original message

1. I wonder if they're offering to observe "network neutrality"...

...for as long as they're merged, or just for the first year.

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sharp_stick

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Thu Dec-28-06 09:54 PM
Response to Original message

2. I ditched them for Vonage

the second the deal for AT&T and SBC went through. I'm saving a bloody fortune and I don't have to say I support AT&T financially.

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mitchleary

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Fri Dec-29-06 09:39 AM
Response to Reply #2

5. I liked Vonage until

I heard Burns or one of the other GOP used their corporate jet.

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sharp_stick

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Fri Dec-29-06 10:19 AM
Response to Reply #5

7. Unfortunately...

if we quit using products from companies that shamelessly give crap away to easy to buy politicians we'd have to go back to living off the land without material goods. ;-)

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PSPS

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Thu Dec-28-06 10:11 PM
Response to Original message

3. How about offering to stop their illegal spying on behalf of the NSA?

Not to mention their wholesale forwarding of everyone's telephone calls.

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toopers

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Fri Dec-29-06 07:46 AM
Response to Original message

4. When is the government going to apply . . .

the same rules to all the network companies? Net neutrality is BS!

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annabanana

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Fri Dec-29-06 09:54 AM
Response to Reply #4

6. What are you talking about?

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toopers

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Sat Dec-30-06 06:41 AM
Response to Reply #6

8. The cable companies are not regulated to nearly the same extent.

eom

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WePurrsevere

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Sat Dec-30-06 07:25 AM
Response to Original message

9. Net Neutrality shouldn't be a bargaining chip, it should be the law.

IME AT&T's "promises" are worthless and all this does is it make it so the "Baby Bells" can eventually be rejoined and once again "Ma Bell", can rise again under a different name. Who needs competition right? :sarcasm: :grr:

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toopers

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Sat Dec-30-06 08:07 AM
Response to Reply #9

10. There is plenty of competition . . .

And you have to regulate all the companies equally, or none at all!

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